Cotton-picker.



J. P. BROWN.

COTTON PICKER.

APPLICATION HLEP AUGJI, 191s.

Patented Jan. 16,1917.

7SHEETS-SHEET l.

J. P. BROWN.

COTTON PICKER.

APPucATm'N FILED. AUG.3I. I915.

Patented Jan.16,1917.

1SHEEPS-SHEET 2.

I. P. BROWN. QOTTON PICKER. APPLICATION man we, 3!. 191,5,

Patented Jan.16,1917.

1 SHEETSSHEET 3.

J; P. BROWN.

COTTON PICKgR. APPLICATION FILED aumal. 1915,

Pa-tented Jan.16,1917.'

?SHEETSSHEET 4.

I. P. BROWN. COTTON v ER. Amicmord mm mam. 191s.

- Patqnted Jan.1'6,1917.

I SHEETS-SHEET 5- J. P. BROWN.

COTTON PICKER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-3|, m5. 1 1,212,899. Patented Jan. 16,1917.

7 SHEETS-{MEET 6.

I. P. BROWN. 001mm Pscksq. APPLICATiON FILED AUG-31, l'9l5.

Patented Jan. 16,1917.

ISHEETS-SHEET I.

haw

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

' JOSEPH P. BROWN, OF FREDERICK, OKLAHOMA.

COTTON-PICKER.

of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to cotton. pickers, and theprimary object of theinvention is to provide a device for picking or gathering cotton, whichwill pick the cotton in a comparatively clean state, preventing thegathering of particles of the pods, stems, sticks or the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cotton picking machine,which includes a plurality of barbed spindles, which are rotatablvconnected in gangs, and further to provide means for causing thespindles to travel about, in a triangular path, fol engaging the cotton,while the spindles are in a vertical position, so as to remove the rawcotton from the pods without breaking the cotton plant or crushing thepods in any way.

' Another object of this invention is to provide automatically actingstripplng means, which will strip the cotton from the picking orgathering spindles, at a predetermined time, and further to providecotton picking spindles which are substantially rectangular shaped incross section, having barbs formed along two of its opposite edges, andpointing downwardly, for engaging the raw cottonand pulling it from thepods, and still further to provide means for automatically turning thesmooth corners of the spindles toward the strip ing fingers, sothat'thecotton may be e ciently stripped from the spindles by theaction'of the strippers.

A still further object of this invention is to provide means for guidingand holding the spindles in a vertical position, while traveling in acotton engaging position, and

for holdin them in a predetermined. defi nite position while the cottonis being stripped therefrom, said means further acting to automaticallyturn the spindles over and guide them into a vertical position forrengagementwith the cotton.

.Another' objectiof this invention is to prowide conveyors for.receiving the cotton from Specification of Letters Patent.

Patentggl J an. 16, 1917..

Application filed August 31,1915. Serial No. 48,840.

the stripping means, which conveyors feed the cotton tosacking means,whereb cotton may be sacked for transportatlon to a gin or storehouse.

Other objects of the invention areto provide a multiple set of the gangsof picking spindles arranged in staggered relation to each other, onepositioned forwardly of the otherfor engaging all of a cotton plant,

and elliciently picking or gathering the cotthe ton therefrom; toprovide a tractile supporting structure which is propelled from the rearof the same so as to eliminate the liability of the crushing or breakingdown of the cotton plants by the means employed for propelling thecotton picker; to provide novel structure for steering the cotton pcker; to, provide means for operating the p ck ng spindles by thetraction of the supportmg structure, and also means for rawmg andlowering the picking structure into or out of an operative position andfor throwing it into and out of operation by the travel of the machine.

With the foregoing and other objects in view this invention consists insuch novel features of construction, combination and arrangement ofparts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings and claimed.

In describing the invention in detail reference will be had to theaccompanying drawings wherein like characters designate like andcorresponding parts throughout-the several views, and in which i Figure1 is a side elevation of the complete cotton picking machine, Fig. .2 isa fragmentary longitudinal section through the cotton picking machine,Fig. 3 is a plan of one of the gangs of picking spindles, showing themeans for rotatin thesame Fig. '1 is an end view of one of t e gangs ofpicking fingers, Fig. 5 is a fragmentary cross section through part ofthe cotton pickmg structure, Fig. 6 is a perspective view'of one of thecotton picking spindles,

Fig. '7 is a sectional view through the means for carrying thec'ottonfrom the strippers andsackmg the same, Fig. 8 is a sideelevati on fofthe means for; moving the 'cotton picking s'tructure, into and out'of ano rative posltion, Fig. 9 is a plan view of-Fig. 8,

section ointhe line 11 1; of

is a section on the line 12-12 of Fig. 2, Fig. 13 is a fragmentarysectional view thr ugh the machine, showing a modified form of means foroperating the picking fingers, Fig.

. 14 is a plan view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 13, Fig.15 is adetail view' of a conveyer structure employed in the cotton pickerconstruction.

Referring more particularly to the'drawings, 1 designates the supportingframe of the cotton picker, which frame is counter-. balanced upon themain or drive axle 2, which axle is positioned substantially equi-,distant of the-ends of the frame 1, and

" cludes a bolt about which is coiled spiral springs-12. The bolt hascollars 11 end of the same.

mounted thereon which are engaged by the outer ends of the springs whilethe inner ends of the springs engage the upper and lower -.s urfaccs ofthe arms 6 for permitting :1 limited yieldable movement of the arms uponthe bolts and with respect to the main frame 1. The bolt is carried byand secured to brackets 9 and 10.

The platform 5 has an arch frame 14 secured to the under surface of therear The platform may be countersunk into the upper surface of the archframe 14, if desired, as is clearly shown in Fig. 11 of the drawings.The lower ends of the frame 14 are positioned verti cally, andsubstantially parallel to the sides of the platform 5, as is shown at15. Axles 16 and 17 are rotatably carried by the straight portion 15 ofthe frame 14, and they extend upwardly through the arch frame uponopposite sides of the platform The lower ends of the axles, which extendbelow the ends 15 of the frame 14, are

bent or disposed at right angles to the ver- 'tical portions of theaxles 16 and 17, form-' ing spindles, indieated at which supportingwheels The upper ends of the axles 16 and 17 have cross rods 21' and 22connected thereto by bars 21' and 22, which cross rods ex tend inwardlytoward the platform 5, and are positioned beneath the under surfaceofthe same. The bars 21 nected to the cross rods 21 and 22 by slot and pinconnections. The inner end of the cross rods 21 and 22 are connected toa 18 and 19, upon rack bar 23, which is. slidably supported are mounted.

. Sprocket chains 49 travel about (1 9 ets 48', andabout sprockets 50and 51, causan 2- are"con-- by a bracket 24, secured to the undersurface of the platform 5. A steering post 25 is rotatably carried bythe platform and has a gear 26 mounted upon its lower end and positionedbeneath the platform 5 and in meshing engagement with the teeth formedupon the rack bar .23. A steering wheel or handle 27 is mounted upon theupper end of the post 25, and positioned in close proximity to aiseat28. The seat 28 is of the ordinary construction and supported by aresilient or spring standard 29, which is secured to the'platformfi. Byrotating the steering wheel. 27, the rack bar 23 may be movedlongitudinally, for steering the supportingwheels 20, for guiding thedirection of travel of the cotton picker.

The supporting frame 1 has a shaft 3.0 rotatably carried thereby,distant of its ends and positioned directly above the axle 2; A sprocket31 is mounted upon the shaft 30, and asprocket chain 32 travels aboutthe same. The sprocket chain also travels about a sprocket 33, which ]Scarried by the axle 2, so that the shaft will be rotated byfthe rotationof the axle. The shaft 30 has a sprocket 34 feathered thereon, whichsprocket has a clutch substantially equisegment 35 formed upon one faceof the same, which is adapted for co-action with a clutch segment 36,which is keyed to the shaft 30. The segments '35 and 36 have outwardlyextending ears 37 and 38 formed thereupon, to which ears are connectedlinks 39. The links 39 have their outer ends converging, and pivotallyconnected to a bar 49, which bar is in: turn connected to a pivotedlever 41. so that, when the lever 41 1s rocked, the links 39 will bemoved toward each other for moving the segments and 36 into meshingengagement with each other. I The lateral body 1 extends to any desiredposition within convenient reach of the operator of the device.

sprocket chain 42 travels about the sprocket 34. mesh with the oppositesides of the shaft 30, as is clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.The sprocket chain 42 ;travels about sprockets 44 and 45, which arecarried by shafts 47 and 46. The shaft. 46 is positioned forwardly ofthe shaft 30, with respect to the frame 1, while the shaft rearwardly ofthe same.

Theshaft 46'has sprockets 48 mounted thereon, upon opposite sides of theframe 1.

the sprock- 47 is positioned ing the chain 'to travel in a substantiallytriangular path. The sprockets 50 are carried 'by a shaft 52, positionedat the for- The links of the chain 42 teeth of the sprocket 34,upon

ward end of the frame 1, and the sprockets 51 are carried by a shaft 53,which isposi;

5 to the frame 1. 1

lengths. "10

tinned doii'nwardly from the shaftsflfi and "'52, and substantiallyequi-distant of the same. The shaft 53 is rotatably supported byauxiliary standards 5-1, which are secured ,The sprocket chains-19 havea plurality of gangs of cotton picking spindles secured thereto atspaced intervals about their Each gang. ofthe cotton picking spindlesfifi, is supported by a frame 50, which has. arms 57 and 58 formed uponits ends and extending outwardly therefrom. Shafts 59 and 60 arerotatably supported by the arms 57 and 58 respectively, and by standards6]., which are secured to the frame 56 inwardly of their ends. The outerend of the shaftsfi) and 60 projects beyond the arms 57 and 58, and arerotatably mounted inthe sprocket, chains 40, so as to permit the frame56 and the gangs of spindles 55 which are carried by each of the frames56, to always maintain substantially a vertical pos ion, except attimes, as will be hereinafter more fully described. The spindles 55 aresubstantially rectangular shaped in cross section, as is clearly shownin Fig. (3 of the d rawings. i

The spindles have barbs 63, formed upon two of their diagonally oppositeedges, which barbs have their points extending downwardly. The edgesother than those upon which the barbs 56 are formed, are perfectlysmooth, for facilitating the stripping I of "the cotton from the pickingspindles.

, he spindles 55 extend through and are rtitatably mounted in the frame56, and they have gears 64 mounted upon their inner short ends, whichproject through the frame 56, The gears (it are held in place by nuts(55, which are mounted upon the screw threaded end (it; of the spindles55'. The gear (kl, which is mounted upon one of the spindles 55. mesheswith the gears, which are mounted upon the ends of the spindles nextthereto, thereby causing the spindles to rotate in a directionoppositely to the spin dle next thereto. The outermost spindles 55, loteach gang, have beveled gears (36 mounted upon their ends, which projectthrough fi ftlie frame 56, in addition to the ordinary gear (H.

The gears 66 mesh with beveled gears 67 and (38, which are mounted uponthe shafts 59 and '60 res 'iectively. The beveled gears 67 and (58 havethe ordinary pc' riphei'al gear teeth indicated at (5!) formed upontheir peripheries, which teeth 69 are provided for meshing engagementwith the rack teeth carried by racks 70 and 71, which are carried by thesubstantially triangiilarly sha 'ied frames 72 and 73. The meshing en--gagenient between the teeth (it) and the racks 70 and 71, willrotate thespindles 55, through theineshing of the gears which are carried thereby,during the travel of the gangs of 65 spindles with the sprocket chains49, about the triangular path of the chain which is formed by themounting of the sprockets 47 and 48, 50 and 51.

The frames 56 have 'triangularly'shaped members 74 mounted upon theirends which travel in close proximity to the frame 72. The outer surfaceof the frame 72 forms a surface or track by which the triangularlyshaped members 74 are guided in their travel. lhe triangiilarly shapedmembers 74 have arms 75 and 70 secured to two of their sides, which armscross at the apex ofthc.

slightly curved, as, a

outer edge of the forward section of the triangularly shaped frame 72,and one side of the triangular member: rides along the frame 72,maintaining the gangs of spin- (lles- 111 a vertical position, causingthe spindles to engage the cotton in a verti,

cal manner, during which they are being rotated, by the action of thegearslfi l. The rotation of the spindles causes the barbs 63 to engagethe cotton fiber and pull the same free from the pods. The gangs ofthespindles travel downwardly, along, theforward edge of the triangularframe 72, until they reach the lower point of the frame, whence theytravel upwardly, along the rear edge of the rear side of the frame. oneof the gangs of spindles reaches theiipper end of the rear side of theframe 72, the arm 75, which isi'carried by the gangs of spindles,engages a stop or projection '79, which turns the frame 56, and thespindles. 55, so that they will assume an inclined position, having theface of the triangular portion 74 along which the arms 76 extend,positioned parallel with and resting upon the upper surfaceof thehorizontal portion 80 of the frame 72, which positions the spindlesparallel with the conveyer 81, which carries the stripping fingers 82.

The gears 67 and (38 have projections 83 formed upon their outer faces,which projections are positioned for engagement with projections. 8tsituated near the projection 79 and which are formed upon and extendinwardly from the upper inner corner of the triangularly shaped frame72, whichwill rotate the gears 67 and 68, and co quently the gears 64suflicient y, for positioning the smooth edges of the spindles towardeach other and toward the stripping fingers 82, -so that the cotton maybe easily removed from the spindles. The racks 70 and .71 tertinns84.

When 1 frame 1, while the roller 87 is carried by a shaft 88, which issupported by an upstanding brace 89. veyer 81 travels at an incline, orangle with respect to the frame-1, and it is positioned parallelwiththeangle of the spindles 55, wh'en they are positioned above the rear--most portions of the upper side of the tri- ,angular frame. The roller89 is mounted upon a shaft 90, which shaft 1s rotated by the shaft -16,through the medium of a sprocket chain 91, and necessary sprockets,which are mounted upon the shafts 46 and 90. The conveyer 81 isoperatively connected to the shaft 46, so that the stripping fingerswill; travel in the path indicated by the arrow A in Fig. 1 of thedrawings, and enter between the various spindles in each gang, towardthe frames 56, moving outwardly along the spindl.es,-duri ng theirupward travel, and thereby efficiently stripping'the cotton from thebarbs 63, which are formed along the edges of the spindles.

The cotton, after it is stripped from the spindles, is thrown by thestripping fingers against an upstanding dash-board93, whlch forms oneside of a trough 9-t in which a conveyer 95 is. mounted. The conveyer 95is operated in any suitable manner, such as lay-beveled gears 94 and 95from the shaft 30. The beveled gear 94 is carried by a subs stantiallyvertically positioned shaft 96,

which latter shaft may be operatively connected to the shaft 30 forrotation by the latter, in any of a number of ordinary con- 'structions.

\The outlet end of the trough 9i communica'tbs ith a housing 98. inwhich is mounted a feeding screw 99. The housing 98 has an opening 100formed in its outer end, which opening is provided for permitting of theoutlet of the cotton from the housing 98. The housing 98 has clamps101'and 102 secured to the upper and lowersurfaces of its outer end,which clamps are provided for engaging a sack, for holding the samesecurely connected to the housing, so that the Wt 111 of the structure'110, are disposed in cotton upon passing out of the housing, will enterthe sack. The provision of the spiral feeding screw .99, will tend topack the cotton within a sack, after which the cotton may be easily andconveniently transported to a gin or storage building The supportingframe 1 has a second picking structure, generically indicated bythenumeral 110, carried thereby rearwardly lot the picking structurewhich has been heretofore described. The structure 110 is identical inalLrcspects with the structure heretofore described, except that thespindles The stripping belt or c'onshaped supporting frames.

forward edges of staggered relation to the spindles 55, of the forwardpicking structure, so that the picker will efficiently gather of thecotton from the cotton plant.

The stripping'fingers 112, which strip the cotton from the spindles 111,deliver the cotton to a conveyer 113, which in turn delivers the cottonto a spiral feed screw similar in construction to the screw 99.

The cotton picking machine is constructed so that the mechanism can beraised or lowered for the purpose of taking the machine from one fieldto another, or while operating in the field. This construction isclearly illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 of the drawings. The lower videdwith an arch 121, to which is secured a metallic guiding strap 122.Substantially U-shapcd guide members 123 and 124 are secured to thesides of the sill 120, and they have slidably mounted therein a rack bar125, the lower end' of which supports the axle 2 of the machine. A shaft126 is rotatably carried by the sill 120 and by the bracket 122. Apinion 127 is mounted upon the shaft 126, and it meshes with the teethof the-rack 125. A gear 128 is also mounted sill 120 of the frame 1,'isp r0- In the operation of the improved cotton picker the propellingpower of the cotton picker is provided from. the rear end of the same,so as to prevent the mutilation or breaking of the cotton plants,thereby, and the cotton picker is forced or driven into the plant.consequently the supporting rotate the shaft 30.

ments 35 and 36, are

wheels 3, will when'the clutch segmeshmg. the sprockets the chains 42,:1nd rotate the shafts 46 and 47, for propelling the sprocket chainswhich are operatlvely connected thereto. The

The rotation of the axle2, and

'31 will also be rotated, which will operate movement of the sprocketchains causes the gangs of spindles carried by both the front pickingstructure and the rear picking structure 110, to move' about theirtriangularly When the gangs are traveling along the the triangularframes, vertically, and owing to the fact that the rack bars extendalong both the forward and rear angled sides of the rectangular frame,the spindles 55 and 111 will be rotated as well as moved along theframes. The rotation of the spindles, each spindle rotating in adirection opposite to of picking spindles they are positioned ton fiber,and pull the san'ie'from the pods.

,The cotton will cling to the spindles during their travel upwardL alongthe rear sides of the substantially triangularly shaped frames, andwhen, or inunediately after each gang of spindles reaches the top of therack bars, they will be moved from a vertical position to an inclined.position by the engagei'nent of the anus 76 with the projccticm-T' \Vhenthe gangs of spindles are turned to an inclined or angled position, theywill he n'iaintained in such position by the portions 74 riding upon theupper surface of the frame 72.

\Vhen the 5]" 1l1(llt?$ are positioned on. the

horizontal side of the triangular frames, the stripping lii'igcrs 82.and 112, pass between the lil'igers, which have previously been turned,by means of the projections or lugs 83, that the smooth sides of theSPiI'ICllGS will be facing each other, and

dles, they reach the projection 14-0, which is secured to the upperhorizontal portion 80 of the frai'ne 5.12, which projection engages thearms 75, and turns the frames 56 and conserpiently the triangularportion 71, over, positioning the spindles so that they extend outwardlyand forwardly of the fral'ne 1 of the cotton pickingmachine, so that,din-inn their further travel, theywill be properly positioned forentering, the cot ton in a vertical plane. N

'llhexotton, after bringstripprd from the spindles, is de jiosited intothe trough. 1H, froln which it is carried by the conveyer 95, into thehousing 98. The "spiral feed screw 99, feeds the cotton through thehousing 98 and packs it into a sack. or other"analogmls receptacle,which may be attached to h outer end of the housing 98, by mean of theclips 101 and 1013, after which the cotton is ready for transportationto a gin. or store house. v

hen it is desired to transport the ill']* proved cotton picker from onefield to another, oi-within a field in an inoperative position, theclutch segnn-nts 35 and 36 are moved. out of el'igagement with eacltother, which allowsthc shaft 30 to run free with respect to the sprocket34-, and consequently eliminate the moven'ient of the sprocket chain 42,and its co-acting parts. The frame is also raised, by means of the rack125, so that the spindles will be raised above a cotton engagingposition. I

\Vhen the machii' e is in operation. the

chain 32 is geared so that the main support ingl wheels 3 willwnroiteforward on the ground, a distance equal to the distance covered, by therearward moven'ient'ot a spindle gang on the downwardly sloping sides ofthe triangular .frames, thereby bringing, the spindle gang into and outof the cotton without being dragged forward, substantially decreasingthe liability of the breaking and mutilation of the cotton plant andincreasing the cleanliness of the raw cotton gathered by the picker.

In Figs. 13 and 14, a, modified form of the structure .for regulatingthe operation of the spindles, provided. In these views, the picking s'iindlcs 150 are rotatively sup-' ported by fral'nes -151, and eachspindle is operatirely connected to the spindle next thereto, by meansof gears 152, which mesh with each other, rotating each spindle in adirection oppositely to the direction of the rotation of the spindlenext thereto. The outermost of the spindles 150, of each gang, hasbeveled gears 153 mounted upon their ends interiorly of the frames 151,which beveled gears mesh with beveled gears 154. The beveled' gears 154.have"ordinary-gear teeth imlicated. at 155 formed upon a section oftheir peripheries, which mesh with the teeth of rack bars 156. The riickbars 156 are carried by an auxiliary frame? 57, which is secured to themain frame of the cotton picking machine. In" the form illustrated inthese figures; the,.triangula-rly shaped members 74 and -tlieirco-acting arms 75 and 76, areeliminated, and the framesllil have ai'n'is160 connected to their outer ends and extending outwardly therefromsubstantially parallel to the picking spindles 150. The arms 160 havetheir outer ends angled, as is shown at 161. Rollers 162 are mountedupon the angled ends 161 of the arms 160. and the rollers ride inchannels 163, which are carried bythe sides of the triangularly shapedframes 165, of the cotton picking machine. The channels 163 ex-- tendentirely above the outer surfaceof the triai'igularly shaped frames 165,and they have upstanding humps 166 formed thereon, rearwardly oftheportions of the channels which position the spindles substantially.at right angles to the stripping fingers, .for turning thegang-carlyii'ig frames 151 and their spindles over to position thespindles for proper entrance into a cotton plant for picking; cotton.vided upon the frame 165. for engagement,

A projection 167 is pro i with the gangs 151, for facilitating theturnposed framework 201, which are positioned fqn'w'ardly bf the frontand rear gangs of spindles. respectively. T he skeleton frames 200 and201 are provided for bending down the cotton plants, causing all of theplants to be at a uniform height when engaged by the picking spinllles.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings the advantages of construction and of the method of operationof the improved cotton picker will bereadily apparent to those skilledin the art to which this invention' appertains and, while in theforegoing description, the principle of the operation-of this inventionhas been described together with various features of construction, it-

what is claimed. 7 a

What is claimed is V 1. In a cotton picker, the combination of asupporting frame, substantially triangularly shaped tracks carried bysaid frame and being disposed in-a forward pair and a rear ward pair,'aplurality of auxiliary frames for travel on said tracks, means. forcausing said auxiliary frames to travel over said tracks, a pluralityofcotton pickin spindles carried by each of said auxiliary frames, saidframes being pivotally supported for permitting said spindles to assumea vertical position when in a cotton-picking osition, thespindlescarried by the frames or travel about said rearward track beingdisposed staggeredly to the spindles carried y the auxiliary framesv(for travel on said forward pair of tracks, and means for rotating saidspindles :while positioned vertically.

2. In a cotton picker, the combination of a supportin frame,substantially 'triangu-' larl'y shape tracks carried by said frame andbeing disposed in a forward pair and a rearward pair, a plurality'ofauxiliary frames for travel on said tracks, means for causing saidauxiliary'frames to travel over said tracks," a plurality of cottonpicking spindles carried by each of said auxiliary frames, said framesbeing pivotally supported for permitting said spindles to assumevertical position when in a cotton picking position, the-spindlescarried by the,

frames for travel about said rearward track beingdisposed staggeredly tothe spindles carried by the auxiliary frames fort ravel on said forwardpair of tracks, means for automatically moving said spindles from avertical position into an angled position with respect to the verticalafter movement out of a cotton picking position, means for stripping thecotton from Said spindles when in an angled position, and means forrotatingsaid spindles while positioned vertically.

8. In a cotton picker, the combination of,

a supporting frame, substantially triangularly shaped tracks carried bysaid frame and being disposed in a forward pair and a rearward pair, aplurality of auxiliary frames for travel on said tracks, means forcausing said auxiliary frames to travel over said tracks, av pluralityof cotton picking spindles carried by each of said auxiliary frames,said fr mes being pivotally supported for perm ttin said spindles toassume a vertical pos1 10n when in a cotton pickingposition, thespindles carried by the frames for travel about saidrearward track beingdisposed staggeredly -to the spindles carried by the auxiliary framesfor travel on said forward pair of tracks, means for l automaticallymoving said spindles from a vertical position into an angled positionwith respect to the vertical after movement out of a cotton pickingposition, endless belts carried by said supporting frame, a plurality ofspaced stripping fingers carried by said belts and positioned fortravel" between said picking spindles when the latter are in an angledposition for stripping the cotton from said spindles.

In a cotton picker, the combination of a supporting frame, substantiallytriangularly shaped tracks carried by said frame and being disposed in aforward pair and a rearward pair, a plurality of auxiliary frames fortravel on said tracks, means for causing said auxiliary frames to travelover' said tracks, a plurality of cotton picking spindles carried byeach of said auxiliary frames,- said fl ames being pivotally supportedfor permitting said spindles to assume a vertical position when in acotton picking position, the spindles carried by the frames for travelabout said rearward track being disposed staggeredly to the spindlescarried by the auxiliary frames for travel on said forward pair oftracks, means for automatically moving said spindles from a verticalposition into an angled position with respect to the vertical aftermovement out of a cotton picking position, endless belts carried by saidsupporting frame, a plurality of spaced stripping fingers carried bysaid belts and positioned for travel between said picking spindles whenthe latter are in an angled position for stripping the cotton from saidspindles, troughs carried by said frame for receiving the cotton fromsaid stripping fingers, endless conveyers positioned within saidtroughs, and cotton sacking means carried by said supporting frame forreceiving the cotton from said troughs.

5. In a cotton picker, the combination, of a supporting structure, aplurality of auxiliary frames, a plurality of cotton picking spindlescarried by each of said frames, gears mounted upon said spindles, rackbars carried by said supporting structure, gears meshing with said' rackbars, means for causing said gears to. travel oversaid rack bars, andbeveled gears connecting said spindle-carried gears and said last namedgears for rotating said spindles by the travel of said last named gearsover said rack bars, said spindle-carried gears meshing for rotatingeach spindle in a direction oppositely to the rotation of. the spindleporting frame, gears meshing wit 1 said rack bars, means for moving saidgears over said rack bars, and beveled gears connecting said spindlecarried gears and said last named gears for rotating said spindles bythe travel of said last named gears over said rack bars, said spindlecarried gears meshing for rotat' ing the spindles in a directionoppositely to the rotation of the spindle next thereto.

7.]111 a cotton picker, a supporting frame,

a plurality of sprockets carried by said name and disposedin triangularformation,

sprocket chains for travel over said sprockcts and in a triangular path.a plurality of cotton picking spindles pivotally supported by saidsprocket chains, gears mounted upon said spindles, rack bars carried bysaid supiorting frame, gears meshingwith said rack iai's, means for,moving said gears over said rack bars, beveled gearsconnectiiigsaidspindle carried gears and said last named gears ,i ng dis forrotating said spindles by the travel of s. id last named gears over saidrack bars, said spindle carried gears meshing for rotat ing the spindlesin a direction opposite to the rhtationof the spindle next thereto. saidspindles positioned vertically when in a cot ton picking position. meansfor automatically moving said spindles into an angled position withrespect to the vertical when ,movcll out of a cotton picking position.and means for stripping'cotton from said spin- (llcs when moved out of acotton picking position, and means for stripping cotton from saidspindles when in an angled position.

S. In a cotton picker. the combination. of a supporting 'l'rame.substantially triangular shaped tracks carried by said frame and beioscdin a 'lorwari-l pair and a rearward pair. a plurality of auxiliaryframes fortravcl about said tracks. a plurality of cotton pickingspindles carried by each of said auxiliary frames. gears mounted uponsaid spindles. rack bars carried by said supporting frame. "cars meshingwith said rack bars, means for moving said gears over said rack bars,bevel gears connecting said spin-M dle carried gears and said last namedgears, for rotating said spindles bytlie travel of.

the last named gears over said rack bars,

said spindle carried gears meshing for rotating each spindle in adirection oppositely to the rotation of the spindle next thereto, saidframes being pivotally supported for per nnttmg said spindles to assumea vertical: 2

I position when in a cotton picking position,

the spindles carried by the frames for travel about said rearward trackbeing disposed staggeredly to the spindles qarried by the auxiliaryframes for travel about saidfor ward pair of tracks.

9. In a cotton picker, the combination of.

ing disposed in a forward pair and a rear- .ward pair, a plurality ofauxiliary frames for travel about said tracks. a plurality of cottonpicking spindles carried by each of said auxiliary frames. gears mountedupon said spindles. rack bars carried by said supporting frame. gearsmeshing with said rack' bars, means for moving said gears over said rackbars. bevel gears connecting said spindle carried gears and said lastnamed gears for rotating said spindles by the travel of the last namedgears over said rack bars, said spindle carried gears mesliing'forrotating each spindle in a direction oppositely to the rotation of. thespindle next. thereto. said frames being pivotally supported forpermitting said spindles to assume a vertical position when in a cottonpicking position. the spindles carried by the frames for travel.aboutsaid rearward track being dis posed staggeredly to thespindlescarried by the auxiliary frames for travel about said fori'ardpair of tracks. means for automatically moving said spindles into anangled position with respect to the vertical when moved out of a cottonpicking position. and means for stripping cotton from said spindles whenin an angled position.

10. In a'cotton picker. the combination, of a supporting frame.substantially triangular shaped tracks carried by said frames and beingdisposed in a forward pair and a rearward pair. a plurality of.auxiliary frames for travel about said,tracks. a plurality of cottonpicking spindles carried bv each of said auxiliary frames. gea inountecupon said spindles. rack bars carried by said supporting 'lramc."ears'meshing with said rack bars. means fol-moving said gears over saidrack bars. bevel gears connecting said spindle carried gears and saidlast named gears for rotating said spindles by the travel of said lastnamed gears over said rack bars,

.to the rotation of the spindle next there-to.

said frames being pivotally supported for -per inittingg said spindle toassume a vertical positlon. when in a cotton picking position,

the spindles carried by the frame for travel aboutsaid rearward trackbeing disposed 5."staggeredly to the spindles carried by the auxiliaryframes for travel about said for- "Qwardpair of tracks, means forautomatically moving the spindles from a vertical position into anangled position with respect to the ,1'0' vertical after movement out ofa cotton picking position, means for stripping the cotton -from 'saidspindles when in an angled-position, and means for partially rotatingsaid spindles during movement into an angled position.

11. In a cotton picker, the combination, of a supporting frame,substantially triangularly. shaped tracks carried by said frameandf'difsposed in a forward pair and a rearward pair," a plurality ofauxiliary frames for travel about said tracks, a'plurality of cottonicking; spindles carried by each of said auxiliary frames, gears mountedupon said spind'les, "rackbars carried by said supporting frame, gearsmeshing with said rack bars n ea s for moving said gears over said l velgear-s connecting said spin- T1l1e' carr1edgears andsaid last namedgears for rotating said spindles by the travel of said last -named gearsover said rack bars, said spindle carried gears meshing for rotatingeach spindle in the direction oppositely tothe rotation of the spindlenext thereto, said frame being pivotally supported for permitting saidspindle to assume a vertical position when in a cotton picking position,the spindles carried by the frames for travel about the rearward tracksbeing disposed staggeredly to the spindles car-' ried by the auxiliaryframes for travel about said forward pair of tracks, means forautomatically moving said spindles from avertical position into anangled position with respect to the vertical after movement out of acotton picking position, endlessvbelts carried by said supporting frame,a plurality of spaced stripping fingers carried by said belts andpositioned for travel between said spindles when the latter are in anangled position for stripping 'thecotton from said spindles, troughscarried by said frame for receiving the cotton from said strippingfingers, endless conveyers positioned within said troughs, and cottonsacking means cara. supporting frame, substantially triangularly shapedtracks carried by said frame 'and disposed in a forward pairand a rear-60.

ward pair, a plurality of auxiliary frames for travel about said tracks,a plurality of cotton picking spindles carried by each of said auxiliaryframes, gears mounted upon'said spindles, rack bars carried by saidsupporting frame, gears meshing with said rack bars, means for movingsaid gears over said rack bars, bevel gears connecting said spindlecarried gears and said last namedgears for rotating said spindles by thetravel of said last named gears over said rack bars, said spindlecarried gears meshingfor rotating each spindle in the direction oppositelyto the rotation of the spindle next thereto, said frame beingpivotally supported for permitting each of saidspindles to assume avertical osition when in a cotton picking position, t 1e spindlescarried by the frames for travel about the rearward tracks bein disposedstaggeredly to the spindles carried by the auxiliary frames for travelabout said forward pair of tracks, means for automatically movingsaidspindles from a vertical position into an angled position with respectto the vertical after movement out of a cotton picking position,;endless belts carried by said supportin frame, a plurality of spacedstripping 'ngers carried by said belts and positioned for travel betweensaid spindles when the latter are in an an gled position for strippingthe cotton from said spindles, troughs carried by said frame forreceiving the cotton from said stripping ,lingers, endless con'veyers'positioned Wlthill' said troughs, cotton sacking means carried by saidsupporting frame for receiving the cottonfrom said troughs, and meansfor partially rotating said spindles during their movement to an angledposition with respect tosaid supporting frame and prior to the strippingo the cotton therefrom.

Intestimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of .two witnesses.

' JOSEPH PERCY BROWN.

Vitnesses:

Gao. M. BURKHARDT, J. L. COPELAND.

